Chapter 33
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 33
Enrico Lagan was, of course, a noble. He was a clueless fellow who looked like he'd never known a hard day in his life. Twirling a strand of his curly brown bangs around his finger, he listened to me speak.
"...So, you and Giselle aren't in some kind of arranged marriage or anything?"
Hearing my explanation, Enrico let out a sigh of relief, visibly relaxing.
"If anything, Giselle can't stand me. If we were on good terms, would I be eating all by myself like this?"
Enrico nodded in agreement.
"True. No matter how much they preach meritocracy, there's no way a prestigious family like the Custorias would take someone from the Lower District into their household. I worried over nothing. Yes, indeed."
He had some nerve saying that right to my face. And yet, I didn't feel the slightest bit angry. I couldn't detect a shred of malice in Enrico's words. He was simply looking down on the Lower District as naturally as he breathed.
Most nobles probably thought and acted just like Enrico. Even my fellow cadets were no different. The vast majority of my peers were nobles brimming with a sense of privilege. They only accepted me as an equal because they saw me as a special exception.
It was a harsh reminder of reality. Having spent all my time in the training center until now, I'd unconsciously downplayed the gap in our origins.
"Enrico, I spent my time answering your questions. Now it's your turn to answer mine."
I said it as if it were only fair.
"Well, sure. It's not like I'm busy. Go ahead and ask."
Enrico looked a bit reluctant, put off by my demand and my attitude. Probably because he didn't view me as his equal.
"Is Giselle's personality always this rotten?"
Enrico would know Giselle well, considering she was the girl he liked.
"Watch your mouth. How dare you talk about—"
Enrico flared up, radiating open hostility. I didn't let him finish.
"Save the empty threats. You don't have the ability to hurt me, nor are you in any position to punish me. But for me? Killing you wouldn't even take a second."
I spoke calmly. As the weight of my words sank in, Enrico's face flushed red, and he moved to stand and leave.
Grab!
I reached out and yanked his arm. Having only made it halfway up, he was dragged back down onto the bench, nearly toppling over.
"W-What do you think you're doing?!"
"Even if I beat you half to death right here, my only punishment would be probation or a pay cut. They won't send me back to the Lower District. The Empire has invested too much time and money in me. On top of that, my training records are excellent, and I was awarded a Military Medal not too long ago."
"...Are you th-threatening me right now?"
Fear crept onto Enrico's face.
"If you try to stand up without my permission again, I'll start by snapping those expensive legs of yours. If you want to test whether I'm joking, go right ahead."
I released his arm. Enrico didn't move.
"Violent and barbaric. Just what you'd expect from someone from the Lower District."
Enrico spat out the only resistance he could muster. I could laugh off an insult of that level without a second thought.
"Then explain it nicely to a barbarian like me, Young Master," I said playfully.
If I pushed him any harder, Enrico would probably stand up even if it meant getting his legs broken. He had at least that much pride.
Besides, I had no actual intention of harming him. It was purely a verbal threat.
Enrico closed his eyes, took a breath, and opened them again before speaking.
"Giselle's a bit on the cold side. But that's part of her charm."
"A bit?" I scoffed.
"She's a Custoria. And the daughter of the current Imperial Guard Captain, no less. There are countless people flattering her just to get on her good side and forge a connection. It's only natural she'd become guarded and exclusive. In a way, she's pitiful."
Enrico spoke bitterly. I didn't agree, but I let it slide.
"Forget Giselle. Do you know anything about Barbara?"
"The Witch, Barbara?"
That was an unusual response. I needed to make sure the Barbara he was talking about was the same one I knew.
"I mean the Dormitory Head, Barbara."
"Same difference. Her nickname is the Witch. I doubt there's a single person in the Academy who likes her."
"But she's the Dormitory Head?"
"Nobody wants to be Dormitory Head. It's full of tedious chores with zero reward. You're basically the dorm's servant."
"...So she didn't get the position because her abilities were recognized."
Only then did I understand. Barbara was being ostracized. And by the entire Academy, no less.
"Now you're curious why she's called a witch, aren't you?"
Enrico smiled faintly, seemingly having relaxed.
"Does she cast curses on people, like a real witch?"
"Heh, something like that. By the way, do you know the malfunction rate of an android's AI?"
Enrico wore a spooky expression.
"I only know it's extremely low."
"It's 0.8 percent. And most of those are minor glitches that don't even lead to a full rampage."
When an AI malfunction causes an android to spiral completely out of control, it's called a "rampage." Once it reaches that point, there's no option left but disposal.
Android rampages happen across the Empire from time to time. I'd disposed of a rampaging android myself before. It was considered one of the simpler tasks among a cadet's duties.
"And?"
"Anyone who got close to Barbara always ended up caught in an android rampage. Over the past three years, there have been five injury-causing incidents. We call it Barbara's Curse."
Even I was slightly taken aback. Seeing my reaction, Enrico let out a satisfied smile.
"That's... statistically impossible. It's only logical to assume there was some form of deliberate tampering."
"Right? Anyone would think so. But they never found a single trace or shred of evidence. The only common thread was that all the victims were close to Barbara."
My doubts lingered.
"But that doesn't necessarily make it Barbara's fault."
"That's exactly why she's so creepy! She knows that anyone who gets close to her gets hurt, yet she keeps trying to cling to people anyway. That's why everyone treats her so harshly. And..."
Enrico trailed off, pausing for dramatic effect. He had quite a talent for storytelling. Unable to contain my curiosity, I pressed him.
"...And?"
"There are even rumors that Barbara herself engineered the android rampages."
"How?"
"Barbara was admitted under a special track because of her talent in engineering—specifically, artificial intelligence. Still, manipulating androids without leaving a single shred of evidence... even I think that's a stretch. Why would she even do it? And above all, there's no way Barbara is that skilled."
I considered the hypothesis that Barbara was manipulating the androids too.
What if Barbara artificially triggered the android malfunctions? And she only targeted people close to her?
If she were retaliating against those who looked down on her for her background, that would make sense. But attacking her own friends? That made no sense at all.
Unless she's completely out of her mind...
The moment my thoughts reached that point, I recalled Giselle's words.
The worst psycho in Cracia Academy.
She'd been referring to Barbara. I was starting to grow curious about the exact meaning behind those words.
"Anyway, that's why she's called a witch. It's not normal to keep trying to make friends when you know they'll get hurt just by being near you, is it? If it were me, I would've dropped out or just lived quietly on my own."
Having sorted through the information, I brought up my final question.
"What's the relationship between Giselle and Barbara? They seemed to know each other well."
Enrico, who had been talking excitedly, hesitated the instant Giselle's name came up.
"I'll tell Giselle that Enrico is a kind and decent man. Though I can't say how much weight my words will carry."
At my promise, Enrico sighed and opened his mouth.
"Giselle was the second victim of the curse. Since a lady of the Custoria family was attacked, it naturally caused an uproar. And yet, they still couldn't find any evidence of deliberate tampering. Giselle was injured and only returned to the Academy a month later."
I was surprised on more than one count.
"I thought only people close to her got attacked. So Giselle and Barbara were close?"
"They were quite close. Giselle's an aspiring engineer herself, after all."
Our conversation ended there. In the distance, Giselle was walking toward us.
The moment he saw her, Enrico shot up, ready to flee.
"Why don't you stay and say hello? I thought you liked her."
"I-I'm still content just watching her from afar. Luka, don't forget your promise. Say some good things about me."
Blushing, Enrico scurried off.
Before I knew it, Giselle had walked up and was staring at me. She must have seen Enrico and me together.
"It seems you've already made a friend."
"Ah, well, something like that. Enrico Lagan is a kind and decent guy."
Remembering Enrico's plea, I didn't forget to slip in the compliment.
"...Is he? Honestly, he creeps me out. I always feel like he's hovering around me."
Giselle gave a slight shudder.
Sorry, Enrico. I don't think you stand a chance.
* * *
Barbara's Curse had piqued my interest. I hadn't expected myself to care about this kind of gossip.
But that only went to show how boring my life at the Academy had become. After living a life where a single mistake meant death, this place left me severely starved for stimulation.
My combat instincts are going to rust at this rate.
Sitting at a desk doing nothing but attending classes for a whole week was driving me insane.
Unable to take it anymore, I went to find my classmate, Felix. He seemed to be thoroughly enjoying Academy life. There were always students hanging around him.
"Felix, let's spar."
Felix looked slightly startled by my proposal and stepped closer.
"...Luka, I don't want to show my friends me losing. Especially not the girls. You're stronger than me."
Felix whispered his refusal. Hearing that, I couldn't push him any further.
I want to fight.
It sounded crazy, but that was exactly how I felt. I wished someone would just pick a fight with me.
I understood all too clearly that I was a weapon of war in human form. Throughout my time as a cadet, I'd been regularly injected with synthetic drugs that altered the structure of my hormone receptors. I hadn't noticed it back at the training center. There, I'd always had some way to vent my aggression.
I was particularly aggressive, even among the cadets. It was only natural that my patience wore thin so quickly.
How pathetic, Luka.
I tried to focus and pull myself together, to channel the frustration elsewhere.
Flip!
I tossed my pocketknife into the air, letting it fall toward my face. Watching the spinning blade, I snatched the tip just before it reached my eyes. I repeated this as I walked.
I look like a total lunatic.
I muttered to myself. I almost wished someone would suddenly press a gun barrel to my temple. That was how starved for stimulation I was.
It's not like my aggression will stay at its peak forever. Once my brain realizes there won't be any combat or training for a while, my hormone levels will settle back to a reasonable level.
In a way, it was a form of withdrawal. If I could just get through this rough patch, I'd find peace.
On my way to the dormitory, I stopped in my tracks.
Barbara was standing in the path leading to the dorms. And she wasn't alone. Three female students stood in front of her.
"Oh, my bad, Barbara. I'll wash your clothes for you, so take them off right here."
The girl holding an empty cup spoke. A sticky yellow drink was smeared all over Barbara's hair and top like paint.
"H-Here? I-It's fine."
"Hey, girls, did I hear that right? A nobody like Barbara just turned down my kindness?"
The two girls behind her chimed in, criticizing Barbara's insolence. It was childish, petty bullying.
Now I knew why Barbara showered so often. Something like this must have happened on my first day at the dormitory too. That was why she'd rushed to wash up.
Splash!
One of the girls in the back poured her drink over Barbara's pants.
"Oops, I'm so clumsy. Sorry, Barbara. Looks like we'll have to wash your pants too. Hurry up and take them off. I'll wash them so they look brand new before I return them."
Barbara squeezed her eyes shut, her trembling hands reaching for the buttons of her shirt.
I was intrigued by Barbara, but I didn't particularly like her. Normally, I might have just walked past this scene. I had no desire to help someone who wouldn't even try to fight back.
But you're in luck, Barbara.
Right now, I couldn't tolerate anything that annoyed me. Besides, an interesting idea had just crossed my mind.
Thwip!
I threw my pocketknife. The blade pierced clean through the empty cup in the girl's hand.
"Kyaaaah! Who—Y-You're the dispatched..."
The screaming girl's eyes went wide when she saw me. As a dispatched cadet, I was something of a celebrity, so everyone recognized me.
"Stop messing around and get lost."
I spoke curtly as I walked toward them.
"Do you—Do you even know what you're doing? I'm—"
Ah, this familiar pattern again. I wondered how many more times I'd have to hear the exact same line in this place.
I silently glared at them. The girl's mouth clamped shut. My expression must have looked incredibly fierce just then.
"I hit girls too. Right in the face."
I said it in a low growl, like a starving beast. That was more than enough. The girls scowled, hesitated, then scurried away.
"U-Um, Luka... th-thank you."
A disheveled Barbara looked up at me, her face flushed.
...Does this mean we're close enough now for me to get attacked by an android?